HOUSE BILL 343 – Public Benefits – Requirement of Proof of Lawful Presence – Maryland

This bill needs to go through and be adopted as law.  This will help keep the Illegal Aliens in Maryland from taking our Jobs and Social Services and lessening the burden of our share of the cost.  Let’s hope Casa De Maryland does not start busing Illegal’s up to testify on this bill at anytime whatsoever.  No more Fraud on SS #, no more bosses picking up Illegals at the corner to take jobs, hold the business’s accountable and continue to report them.  No one is in fear of PG and Montgomery County’s any longer.  We will not allow 2 counties to persuade the public by blocking this bill.  This is the year to do the job of the voters, your employer’s.  Remember that PG and MOCO, you are employed by Legal Citizens/Voters

HOUSE BILL 343

Bill is in the House – First Reading Appropriations

File Code: State Government – Regulations and Procedures

Prior Year Introduction As: HB 1234/09 – APP

Sponsored By:

Delegate O’Donnell

Entitled:

Public Benefits – Requirement of Proof of Lawful Presence

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Synopsis:

Requiring that adults provide proof of lawful presence in the United States before receiving public benefits; requiring State units and political subdivisions that provide public benefits to verify the lawful presence of persons in the United States; requiring applicants for public benefits to produce specified types of identification and affidavits; etc.

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History by Legislative and Calendar Date

Legislative date is used to record history occurring in the Chambers otherwise Calendar date is used. 
Any actions occurring today are available in the proceedings and hearing schedule

House Action

1/27

First Reading Appropriations

Hearing 2/9 at 2:00 p.m.

Senate Action

No Action

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Bill indexed under the following Subjects:

Administrative Agencies -see also- Electronic Government

Aliens and Citizenship

Counties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties

Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc.

Federal Government

Food Stamps

Fraud -see also- Forgery

Grants

Identification

Licenses -see also- Alcoholic Bev Lic; Drivers` Licenses

Loans -see also- Mortgages

Local Government Mandates

Medical Assistance

Municipal Corporations -see also- Annap; Balt; Hager; OC

Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty

Reports

Rules and Regulations

Scholarships and Student Financial Aid

Social Services -see also- Welfare

State Aid

Unemployment

Welfare -see also- Social Services

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Bill affects the following Statutes:

State Government

( 10-1301 , 10-1302 , 10-1303 , 10-1304 , 10-1305 , 10-1306 , 10-1307 )

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Documents

All documents except Roll Call Votes are displayed in PDF format:

Bill Text: First Reading, Third Reading, Enrolled

Fiscal and Policy Note: Not available at this time

Amendments: None offered

“BUDGET GAMES” by DELEGATE PAT McDONOUGH – Maryland

“BUDGET GAMES”   by DELEGATE PAT McDONOUGH

The greatest challenge facing the Governor and the General Assembly is the problem of the $1.5 billion budget deficit.  It seems to me that elected officials should approach such a critical challenge with honesty.  However, the Governor, who creates the budget, has decided to engage in games, tricks, smoke, and mirrors.  For example, his program to fill the budget hole contains $600 million in transfers of State Government funds.  In other words, he is moving money from one pocket to the next pocket without really solving the problem.  Another misleading manipulation is the ploy of believing that President Obama will come to the rescue and provide a $400 million stimulus gift.  Considering the current political atmosphere in Washington, it is doubtful that Mr. Obama has any more of our taxpayers’ money to help out political allies like Governor O’Malley.  The result is the existence of another $400 million deficit and the failure to balance the budget, which is required by the Maryland Constitution.

In his first year in office, Mr. O’Malley failed to roll up his sleeves and exercise responsible fiscal management.  He used the surplus provided to him by former Governor Ehrlich and raided the rainy day fund to support his first year of spending excesses.  During his entire term, this reckless spending pattern has existed, causing the Maryland “Budget Crisis” to be worse than it would have been if the economy were the only problem.  All of O’Malley’s budgets have been excessive in spending.  I voted against every one of them.

A cautionary warning would be appropriate at this time.  Marylanders should be prepared for massive tax increases in 2011.  After the spendaholics and taxaholics are safely reelected to another 4-year term, they will impose upon us the “great ambush tax of 2011.”  These tax hikes may include a gas tax, alcohol tax, sales tax increase, corporate tax and some others the evil geniuses are capable of creating.  Already this year, O’Malley is promoting a “granny” tax hike.  The State of Maryland taxes every nursing home bed, occupied or not, at 2 percent.  O’Malley is increasing this tax by 100%, doubling it to 4 percent.  He has also removed about $25 million from the nursing home assistance budget. These policies are extremely harmful to our frail and elderly because they threaten the existence of our State’s nursing home services.  It is interesting that these destructive policies against our elderly are being promoted by a Governor who claims to be a liberal who cares about the disadvantaged.

There are projects in the budget that could be eliminated or deferred.  Why are the State taxpayers being compelled to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on open space land grabs and new unneeded light rail projects?  An honest Governor and elected representatives should be obligated to be vigilant, honest, and responsible in creating a State budget.  I will offer amendments and speak out on the floor of the House against this budget at the appropriate time.  But, in the final analysis, I will vote, once again, against another phony “Balanced Budget.”

MD Is 10th Worst State for Joblessness Under O’Malley

Maryland Senate Republican Caucus

During the State-of-the-State address this Tuesday, expect Governor Martin
O’Malley to repeatedly state that Maryland is “better off” than other
states. It is true that most economists believe that the proximity to the
federal government and the infusion of federal agency spending props up
Maryland’s economy. But the federal largesse masks the troubling joblessness
undercurrent in Maryland’s private sector.

There have been mounting private sector job losses under O’Malley.
Obviously, you can’t raise the sales tax, hike corporate taxes and enact a
personal income tax surcharge on high-income earners without depressing the
business climate and forcing small business owners to close their doors or
move out-of-state. O’Malley’s policies over the last three years have
seriously harmed private sector economic growth in Maryland.

O’Malley will point to the state’s high unemployment figures as a sign of
Maryland’s health. Even though unemployment rose again last month from 7.3%
to 7.5%, O’Malley will point to the national average of 10% as evidence that
Maryland is weathering the storm.

That’s the spin we have come to expect from this Administration. Maryland’s
unemployment reaches a 26-year high but we are to believe that 7.5%
unemployment propped up by federal spending is supposed to be good news.

However, the 7.5% unemployment rate does not factor in “dropout workers” in
Maryland’s workforce. As reported by the Baltimore Sun this week, this high
7.5% unemployment rate is misleading in that it does not capture the full
scope of joblessness in the state (for full story, click here).

Citing data analyzed by Charles W. McMillion, president and chief economist
at MBG Information Services, Maryland’s joblessness rate would be 10% if the
“dropout workers” (i.e. everyone who dropped out of the labor force in the
past year) are factored in. That is much closer to the nationwide
unemployment rate of 11% when labor-force dropouts are included in the
calculations.

The problem in Maryland is compounded by the fact that there are fewer
private sector employers: “About 139,000 employers were counted by the state
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation at the end of 2009, the lowest
number since 2004. Just as population typically grows, the number of
employers opeing for business usually outpaces closures, but not last year
when a net of 2,900 employers were shuttered, according to the agency.”

With the unemployment insurance tax tripling under O’Malley, it is hard to
envision this trend of declining employers reversing. We can expect
businesses still surviving in the construction industry to be hit especially
hard with closures in 2010.

What’s the solution? O’Malley’s anti-business policies over the last three
years have dropped Maryland from the 25th most business friendly state to
the 45th most business unfriendly state. The obvious solution is to repeal
the high taxation enacted by O’Malley, reverse overburdensome regulations
and incentivise small business growth in the state.

Unfortunately for O’Malley, these are all measures opposed by the special
interests that support him. Thus his plan is to accept federal bailout
monies and borrow more on the taxpayer credit card until he can proposed
even higher taxes once the elections are over in November. With no relief in
sight for the private sector, expect even more business closures and
correspondingly reduced state revenues over the coming year.

For regular updates on the 2010 legislative session, sign up for our web
alerts at www.mdsenategop.com

McCain/Palin Thoughts by Reader Mail

This fluff piece on Sarah Palin is all very nice, but I understand that she will be campaigning for John McCain when he runs against J.D Hayworth for his Arizona senate seat this fall. I am afraid that if Mrs. Palin campaigns for John McCain and he is re-elected it will permanently damage her political career. Of course if Hayworth wins people will soon forget that she campaigned for McCain. However, if McCain wins everytine he stabs conservatives in the back we will remember who supported him and why he remains in the senate.

McCain has supported liberal legislation opposed by his own party and has been called a “maverick” by certain members of the American media.[186] McCain’s reputation as a maverick stems primarily from his authorship of the McCain-Feingold Act for campaign finance reform and his stance on amnesty for illegal immigrants and open borders with Mexico.

]In 1999 McCain said of Roe v. Wade, “in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade.

In 2007, McCain co-sponsored controversial legislation with Senator Ted Kennedy known as the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 which would have allowed tens of millions of illegal immigrants already in the United States a path to citizenship.

Further the Washington Post reports that John McCain and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham “first checked with Mr. Kennedy before deciding to vote with the Massachusetts Democrat on an amendment to the Senate bill”.[190]

McCain has been a lead sponsor of gun control legislation as well as what organizations including Gun Owners of America argue are restrictions on the free speech of pro-Second Amendment organizations [191] even earning an F- rating from Gun Owners of America.

McCain voted against President Bush’s tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, though he voted to extend the tax breaks in 2005.[194]

McCain has been a strong opponent of the Bush administration’s use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” in the War on Terror, and has specifically referred to waterboarding as torture.[195][196]

John McCain’s voting record during the 107th Congress, from January 2001 through November 2002, placed him as the sixth most liberal Republican senator, according to the same analysis

John McCain has a non-paid staff member named Juan Hernandez who is one of the biggest proponents of open borders and a “free flow of people on the Mexican Border. “Hispanic Republicans here in Nevada had a chance to speak by conference to Sen. John McCain and many of us were appalled to learn that his National Director of Hispanic Outreach is none other that Dr. Juan Hernandez, notorious for his open borders stance.”

Mr. “Straight talk” McCain who calls everyone “his friends.” Apparently Republicans aren’t his friends, here are some instances where he attacks GOPers and conservatives.

1. Defending His Amnesty Bill, Sen. McCain Lost His Temper And “Screamed, ‘F*ck You!’ At Texas Sen. John Cornyn” (R-TX) (Charles Hurt, “Raising McCain,” New York Post, 5/19/07)

2. In 2000, Sen. McCain Ran An Attack Ad Comparing Then-Gov. George W. Bush To Bill Clinton. ” (McCain 2000, Campaign Ad, 2/9/00; www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHoXkCprdL4)

3. Sen. McCain Repeatedly Called Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) An “A**hole”, Causing A Fellow GOP Senator To Say, “I Didn’t Want This Guy Anywhere Near A Trigger.” “Senator Hothead,” Newsweek, 2/21/00)

4. Sen. McCain Had A Heated Exchange With Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) And Called Him A “F*cking Jerk.” (Evan Thomas, et al., “Senator Hothead,” Newsweek, 2/21/00)

5. In 1995, Sen. McCain Had A “Scuffle” With 92-Year-Old Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) On The Senate Floor. (Harry Jaffe, “Senator Hothead,” The Washingtonian, 2/97)

6. Sen. McCain Accused Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Of The “Most Egregious Incident” Of Corruption He Had Seen In The Senate. (Amy Keller, “Attacks Escalate In Depositions,” Roll Call, 10/21/02)

7. Sen. McCain Attacked Christian Leaders And Republicans In A Blistering Speech During The 2000 Campaign. MCCAIN: “Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are corrupting influences on religion and politics” (Sen. John McCain, Remarks, Virginia Beach, VA, 2/28/00)

8. Sen. McCain Attacked Vice President Cheney. (Roger Simon, “McCain Bashes Cheney Over Iraq Policy,” The Politico, 1/24/07)

9. Celebrating His First Senate Election In 1986, Sen. McCain Screamed At And Harassed A Young Republican Volunteer. Hinz said McCain’s treatment of the young campaign worker in 1986 troubled him for years. “He (McCain) was screaming at him, and he was red in the face. It wasn’t right, and I was very upset at him.’” (Kris Mayes and Charles Kelly, “Stories Surface On Senator’s Demeanor,” The Arizona Republic, 11/5/99)

10. Sen. McCain “Publicly Abused” Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL). “McCain often insults people and flies off the handle… There have been the many times McCain has called reporters ‘liars’ and ‘idiots’ when they have had the audacity to ask him unpleasant, but pertinent, questions. McCain once… publicly abused Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama.” (Editorial, “There’s Something About McCain,” The Austin American-Statesman, 1/24/07)

11. You see, of course he can cross party lines, he’s been on the Democrats side on almost EVERY ISSUE. He attacks Republicans left and right, flares his nasty temper (which the media ignore) and spites all that is conservative.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.

McCain’s “Gang of 14″ betrayal of his party in favor of Democrat filibusters against GOP judicial nominations: Mark Levin and Andy McCarthy have the goods.

Is McCain a Conservative? By Robert D. Novak

Thursday, January 31, 2008

As John McCain neared his momentous primary election victory in Florida after a ferocious campaign questioning his conservative credentials, right-wingers buzzed over word that he had privately suggested that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was too conservative

Andrew C. McCarthy & Mark R. Levin on John McCain: “McCain never met a Republican back – especially a conservative Republican back – he wouldn’t knife in service to his own overweening political ambition.”

The Lieberman – McCain Claimate Stewradship Act

The revised version of the bill would require the Administrator of the EPA to promulgate regulations to limit the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the electricity generation, transportation, industrial, and commercial economic sectors (as defined by EPA’s Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks). The affected sectors accounted for approximately 85% of the overall U.S. emissions in the year 2000. The bill also would provide for the trading of emissions allowances and reductions through a National Greenhouse Gas Database which would contain an inventory of emissions and registry of reductions.

The information contained in this e-mail, together with any attachment(s), is priveliged and confidential information intended for the use of the addressee(s). Any distribution, use or reporduction without the sender’s prior consent is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender immiediately and destroy this message without making any copies. You should not rely on the content of this message unless satisfied it is from an authorized source.

O’Malley to let it ride on Medicaid – For second year in a row, budget assumes hundreds of millions in federal funds

O’Malley to let it ride on Medicaid

For second year in a row, budget assumes hundreds of millions in federal funds

http://www.gazette.net/stories/01222010/polinew194050_32555.php

Map of States with Mandatory E-Verify Laws – My Letter to the Maryland State House Assembly

Dear State House Assembly, I guess Maryland is missing the boat.  Surely this would affect all Illegal Aliens that have taken our Jobs and the business’s that are breaking the laws by hiring them under the table.  I know the Casa De Maryland Delegation would never let this fly, but we will continue to pressure you to pass this bill.  Casa De Maryland and their Gang of Marauders should not be allowed to testify on any bill unless they are here legally.  Again, we are holding all those Senators and Delegates that voted to give Casa De Maryland over 1 million dollars of tax payer dollars accountable during the next election, including my Senator from Washington County, Don Munson the only Republican Senator to do so.  Maryland tax payers are also paying 1.4 billion dollars a year for these Illegal Aliens according to the FAIR Study and Maryland Dept of Planning.

Map of States with Mandatory E-Verify Laws

http://www.numbersusa.com/content/news/february-1-2009/map-states-with-mandatory-e-verify-laws.html

Updated Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 8:26 AM EST – posted on NumbersUSA

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is currently free to employers and is available in all 50 states. It provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. While its usage remains voluntary throughout the country, some states have passed legislation making its use mandatory for certain businesses.

States Requiring the use of E-Verify (Descriptions of each state below)

Find Businesses Already Using the E-Verify Database
Questions and Answers about E-Verify
FACT SHEET: E-Verify
Map of States with In-State Tuition Laws

Arizona

HB 2779 (Arizona Fair and Legal Employment Act) – Passed in 2007, HB 2779 prohibits employers from knowingly hiring undocumented workers and requires all employers to use E-Verify, effective January 1, 2008. It was followed up in 2008 with HB 2745, which prohibits government contracts to any businesses not using E-Verify, effective May 1, 2008.

Arkansas

HB 1093 – Introduced by State Representative Bill Sample, HB 1093 would require state agencies to use E-Verify and prohibit the state from doing business with contractors unless they were registered to use E-Verify. If enacted, the bill will go into effect on July 1, 2009.

Colorado

HB 1343 – Passed in 2006, HB 1343 prohibits state agencies from entering into contract agreements with contractors who knowingly employ illegal aliens and requires prospective contractors use E-Verify to ensure legal work status of all employees. In 2008, SB 193 was passed requiring contractors with state contracts to use E-Verify. The effective date for SB 193 is August 6, 2008.

Georgia

SB 529 – Passed in 2006, SB 529 requires public employers, contractors and subcontractors with 500 or more employees to participate in E-Verify for all new employees, effective July 1, 2007. Public employers, contractors and subcontractors with more than 100 employees (but less than 500) must use E-Verify on or before July 1, 2008 and public employers, contractors and subcontractors with fewer than 100 employees must use E-Verify on or before July 1, 2009.

Idaho

Executive Order – In December 2006, Governor Jim Risch issued an executive order, with immediate effect, requiring that state agencies participate in the E-Verify system.

Indiana

SB 580 – Introduced by Senator Mike Delph, SB 580 would require all businesses to use E-Verify and would impose the nation’s strictest penalties for employers found guilty of hiring undocumented workers. The effective date for this bill is September 30, 2009.
UPDATED (2/24/09) – SB 580 passed the Indiana Senate by a vote of 37-13 and will move to the State House for further action.

Kansas

SB 580 – Introduced by Senator Peggy Palmer, SB 580 would require businesses to use E-Verify. The bill lost a vote last year, 27-12, but is expected to be re-introduced in 2009.

Minnesota

Executive Order – In January 2008, Governor Tim Pawlenty issued an executive order effective, January 29, 2008, stating that all hiring authorities within the executive branch of state government as well as any employer seeking to enter into a state contract worth in excess of $50,000 must participate in the E-Verify program.

Mississippi

SB 2988 – Passed in 2008, SB 2988 requires public and private employers to participate in E-Verify with a phase in period beginning in 2008 and full participation by 2011. All government agencies and businesses with more than 250 employees were required to comply by July 1, 2008. Companies with 100-250 employees must comply by July 1, 2009, companies with 30-100 employees by July 1, 2010 and the remaining companies by July 1, 2011.

Missouri

HB 1549 – Passed in 2008, HB 1549 requires all public employers to use E-Verify. If a court finds that a business knowingly employed someone not authorized to work, the company’s business permit and licenses shall be suspended for 14 days. Upon the first violation, the state may terminate contracts and bar the company from doing business with the state for 3 years. Upon the second violation, the state may permanently debar the company from doing business with the state.

Nebraska

LB 403 – Passed in April 2009, LB403 requires the mandatory use of E-Verify for all state employers and contractors. It also requires the use of E-Verify for any private employers who request state tax incentives.

North Carolina

SB 1523 – Passed in 2006, SB 1523 requires all state agencies, offices, and universities to use E-Verify. The law applied to all employees hired after January 1, 2007 except for local education agencies which was March 1, 2007.

Oklahoma

HB 1804 (Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act) – Passed in 2007 and made effective on November 1, 2007, HB 1804 requires public employers, contractors and subcontractors to participate in E-Verify and requires income tax withholding for independent contractors who do not have valid Social Security numbers.

Rhode Island

Executive Order – In March 2008, Governor Carcieri issued an executive order requiring executive agencies to use E-Verify; and for all persons and businesses, including grantees, contractors and their subcontractors and vendors to use E-Verify. Proposed House legislation is pending.

South Carolina

HB 4400 – Passed in 2008, HB 4400 requires the mandatory use of E-Verify for all employers by July 1, 2010. All public employers, private employers with more than 100 employees and public contractors with more than 500 employees were required to comply by January 1, 2009. All private employers must comply by July 1, 2009 and all other all businesses by January 1, 2010.

Utah

SB 81 – Passed in 2008 and made effective on July 1, 2009, SB 81 requires public employers, public contractors and subcontractors to E-Verify and makes it illegal to discharge a lawful employee while retaining an unauthorized alien in the same job category.

MD Flunks Race to Top

There is an unusual twist to the competition for federal education dollars
under President Obama’s “Race to the Top” funding program. While Democrats
in Annapolis like to crow about Maryland’s #1 ranking by Education Week
magazine, a different evaluation emerges when the state education system is
judged by the standards established under the Obama Administration.

How ironic that Maryland’s one-party monopoly failed miserably in the first
round of the federal competition administered by a Democrat presidential
administration.

The problem is – in Maryland, education policy is not about the children.
Instead, it is all about the teacher’s union and their stranglehold over
Democrat legislators in the General Assembly.

The Obama administration is modeling the future of 21st century education on
programs that work in Chicago and other innovative systems across the
nation. Public school systems that promote charter schools and reward
successful teachers with “pay for performance” are making great strides in
American’s urban centers. These systems also defer tenure for teachers so
that the motivation exists for continued teacher improvement early in one’s
career.

Unfortunately, legislators in Annapolis at the direction of union leaders
have reject these reforms in Maryland. When Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.,
proposed model legislation for charter schools during his administration,
the bill was stripped down to a bare framework that required union control
of teachers in any charter school in Maryland.

How ironic that Maryland’s application today for highly-sought dollars from
the Obama Adminstration would have been enhanced by passage of the charter
schools bill championed by Governor Ehrlich!

Taxpayers pay $101,000 for Pelosi’s in-flight ‘food, booze’ – Speaker’s trips ‘are more about partying than anything else’

From Ellen Sauerbrey:

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE OUTRAGE THAT WILL MAKE YOU BLOOD BOIL.  Read it and pass it on.  People hate arrogance and hypocrisy.  Her abuse of the plane is bad enough but this story could be her undoing!

Ellen

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OBAMA WATCH CENTRAL

Taxpayers pay $101,000 for Pelosi’s in-flight ‘food, booze’

Speaker’s trips ‘are more about partying than anything else’

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Posted: January 29, 2010
12:20 am Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily

It reads like a dream order for some wild frat party: Maker’s Mark whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Johnny Walker Red scotch, Grey Goose vodka, E&J brandy, Bailey’s Irish Crème, Bacardi Light rum, Jim Beam whiskey, Beefeater gin, Dewars scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jack Daniels whiskey … and Corona beer.

Part of the tab for alcoholic drinks on a congressional trip arranged by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

But that single receipt makes up just part of the more than $101,000 taxpayers paid for “in-flight services” – including food and liquor, for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trips on Air Force jets over the last two years. That’s almost $1,000 per week.

Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Judicial Watch,which investigates and prosecutes government corruption, show that the Pelosi incurred expenses of some $2.1 million for her use of Air Force jets fortravel over that time.

“Speaker Pelosi has a history of wasting taxpayer funds with her boorish demands for military travel,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said today. “And these documents suggest the Speaker’s congressional delegations are more about partying than anything else.”

Pelosi, D-Calif., who joined President Obama on a list of Top 10 corrupt politicians, was added to that list for her “sense of entitlement,” Judicial Watch said when the “honors” were announced not long ago.

“Politicians believe laws and rules (even the U.S. Constitution) apply to the rest of us but not to them. Case in point: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her excessive and boorish demands for military travel. Judicial Watch obtained documents from the Pentagon in 2008 that suggest Pelosi has been treating the Air Force like her own personal airline,” the evaluation said.

And WND reported almost a year ago that Pelosi was shown to have been erratically canceling and rescheduling flights, like one would with an on-call taxi service.

“We have … folks prepping the jets and crews driving in (not a short drive for some), cookingmeals and preflighting the jets etc,” said one Department of Defense e-mail then.

Another official sent an e-mail questioning a series of Pelosi’s requests for aircraft.

“Any chance of politely querying [Pelosi's team] if they really intend to do all of these or are they just picking every weekend?” it stated. “[T]here’s no need to block every weekend ‘just in case’…”

The e-mail noted that the speaker’s office had “a history of canceling many of their past requests.”

Yet another e-mail exchange at that time revealed Pelosi’s demand that jets pick her up at Travis Air Force Base rather than San Francisco’s airport.

“She lives about 1.5 hours from SFO and much closer to Travis. … Whether it is the best use ofassets is not the question. But instead is it worth upsetting the speaker…”

Said another, “This is a battle that we are bound to lose if we tell the speaker(‘s) office. In the end, this is what will happen. I wish that I could say this is a one-time request, but we know it will probably happen again in the future.”

Yet another indicated a deep level of frustration:

“Here is the laydown: there are five G5s. Two are broke. Two off on CODELS. One slated for priority White House… we should keep on G-III for now for Tuesday afternoon and start sacrificing goats and chickens.”

Judicial Watch said the newly obtained 2,000 pages of documentation show Pelosi’s military travel cost the U.S. Air Force $2,100,744.59 over two years – including $101,429.14 which was for in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol.

Among the newest highlights revealed:

Pelosi used Air Force aircraft to travel back to her district at an average cost of $28,210.51 per flight. Of 103 Pelosi-led congressional delegations (CODEL), 31 trips included members of the House speaker’s family.

One CODEL traveling from Washington, D.C., through Tel Aviv, Israel, to Baghdad, Iraq, May 15-20, 2008, “to discuss matters of mutual concern with government leaders” included members of Congress and their spouses and cost $17,931 per hour in aircraft alone. This flight included the purchase of the long list of alcoholic drinks.

According to a “Memo for Record” from a March 29-April 7, 2007, CODEL that involved a stop in Israel, “CODEL could only bring kosher items into the hotel. Kosher alcohol for mixing beverages in the delegation room was purchased on the local economy i.e. bourbon, whiskey, scotch, vodka, gin, triple sec, tequila, etc.

Pelosi’s office could not be contacted for comment. The answering machine said the office would be closed until Monday, and the mailbox was full so no messages could be left.

Judicial Watch, Inc. is a constitutionally conservative, nonpartisan educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law.

Excuses, Excuses: Barack Obama’s Year of Failure

If you watched President Obama’s State of the Union speech last night, you saw a painfully transparent attempt to spin a tale far different from the reality Americans have witnessed over the last twelve months.

As Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have dragged our country in the wrong direction by pushing their elitist government-knows-best policies, Americans have realized that the ”change we can believe in” has become change they didn’t want.

We have seen a year of ethically challenged appointees, haphazard attempts at keeping America safe from terror, failed “stimulus” plans, budget busting deficits, back room deals with special interests, and Obama’s blatant attempt to continue binge spending with unprecedented debt.

Americans across the country are telling President Obama and Congressional Democrats to hit the brakes on their binge spending and government-run liberal experiments and focus on the economy and our security — but they arrogantly refuse to listen.

It is clear that President Obama has failed to bring any kind of responsibility to Washington.

jeffrey, after our recent victory in Massachusetts’ Senate race and last November’s gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, it’s the perfect time for you to invest in stopping them from dragging America to the left. Please make a secure online gift to support the RNC’s efforts to elect Republican candidates who will reverse the damage done by the Obama Democrats’ liberal policies.

You can help to make sure Republicans have the opportunity to turn things around in November bymaking a contribution of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 to the Republican National Committee to support the election of more principled conservative Republican candidates all across America today.

The American people demand the responsible and responsive government they deserve to bring us out of this recession and lead with humility and respect. It is up to you and the RNC to make that happen — help us end the Democrats’ stranglehold on Washington by increasing your support today.

Sincerely,

Michael Steele
Chairman, Republican National Committee

RNC is working hard to lay the groundwork for Republican victories this November — please take this opportunity right now to support our fight to bring real change to Washington by making a secure online contribution of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 to the RNC today. Thank you.

Message from ResistNet.com on Obamas State of the Union Address

Dear Patriotic Resistors:

Barack Obama just finished his first State of the
Union Address. I felt it was bland,
unemotional (even though he told countless
American stories that allegedly caused him to
stay awake at night), and it seemed disingenuous
and hollow.

Of course his promises of creating jobs and
making jobs the number one focus is good news
even though this is an issue that should have been
the major focus to begin with in 2009. He made sure
to promote his administration’s supposed creation
and saving of a couple million jobs despite the loss
of 7 million jobs nation wide. He stated he wants a
Jobs Bill on his desk without delay! So we could
have lost 9 million jobs…whew I feel better!

He spoke of the 95% of Americans receiving
tax cuts last year…and the money recovered from
the bank bailouts (by the way that was under Bush).
He proposed using the 30 Billion recovered from the
bailout to the banks to extend credit to help small
businesses to stay afloat…..Wait a minute …..didn’t
we just recover that money from the banks?

He spoke of eliminating all capitol gains on small
businesses and providing tax incentives to allow
them to invest in new equipment and hiring new
employees.  He said we have to put Americans to
work today on tomorrow’s infrastructure.

Of course he made sure to throw in the state
of the country that he inherited….before he ever
walked in the door! I would expect nothing less from
Obama!

Tomorrow’s infrastructure included drilling off shore,
building safe, clean nuclear plants, creating more jobs
in the process. Then he transitioned into the Cap and
Trade that he wants it passed. Despite the scientific
findings that some agree with.

Doubling our exports over 5 years, Launching
a National Export Initiative and seeking new
markets aggressively. Investing more in education
(even though we are way behind other countries
who spend a lot less) and skills in our nation etc…

Regarding the health care bill/reform he stated
that we are closer than ever before and we need
to pass this. Again the stories of those without
health care or pre-existing conditions. He spoke
of holding insurance companies accountable and
as usual Pharmaceutical companies are not included
in that reform even though they are one of the largest
contributors to the health care cost and issues.

The democrats stood up gleefully clapping and
hanging on his every word. The republicans stoic
in response to their continued desire to push through
a bill that over 70% of American do not want and we
know will end the the greatest health care system in
the world if the government gets involved. Knowing
full well the democrats and the administration are
disconnected from the American people.

2011 will bring a spending freeze on everything other
than National Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social
Security. He stated “If I have to enforce this discipline
by veto I will” stating they would go through the budget
line by line and program by program and enforcing the
Pay as You Go Bill. My question is why wait till 2011?
After all 43 cents on every dollar spent by the government
is borrowed!

Only about 10% of his speech was dedicated to the war
on terror. He also recommitted to the war in Iraq ending
and the troops coming home in August this year and
increased security due to the Christmas bomber.

He stated we must meet our responsibility of the citizens
who sent us here. We face more than a deficit of trust,
there are deep and corrosive doubts about how
Washington works. We must do our work openly and
give people what they deserve. He also stated that he
wants the Congress to put all earmarks on a website so
people can see them prior to any vote, again promising
transparency that has been absent this past year despite
campaign promises.

Overall the speech was full of statements meant to
inspire yet they were flat, he was lecturing, talking
down to the republicans, all the while acting out the
part of the candidate Obama on the campaign trail who
deeply cares about the American people and the Constitution.
He seemed sarcastic and unprofessional in his rhetoric.
Certainly not the type of address we have come to
expect form a President of the United States.

I am sure I missed a few minor details in this recap.
Did he make a few strides in the right direction?
Of course….but I doubt it was as genuine as one
would expect. My assessment?….I think it was an
effort to make the democrats look good in an election
year especially after the Massachusetts Miracle of new
Senator Scott Brown creating a major upset!

I believe only time will tell how genuine this administration
is but after what we have witnessed this past year….
I wouldn’t hold my breath!

In the meantime, keep up the great work! Your efforts
this past year HAVE made an impact. This year we will
succeed in Flipping the House! This year and especially
the next few months will be critical in keeping our
momentum and preparation going. Make sure everyone
you come in contact with is registered to vote and
understands the issues. Connect them to ResistNet.com
and your local groups. The bigger the pipeline the
greater our impact!

Keep the faith and remember…Freedom is never free!

Sincerely,

Darla Dawald, National Director